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Head-mounted virtual reality could help people with autism learn social skills and develop employment opportunities

16 November 2015

Virtual reality technologies (VRTs) using head-mounted
displays (HMDs) could help people with autism develop social skills and
confidence according to a researcher from the University of the West of England
(UWE Bristol).

Dr Nigel Newbutt, Associate Head of Media and Digital Cultures
at UWE Bristol, said, “With as many as 1 in 68 reported as being diagnosed with
an autism spectrum condition, there is the potential for technologies to be
used and applied to many affected people. The National Autistic Society, for
example, report that around 700,000 people in the UK are affected by an autism
condition - a lifelong development disability affecting how a person
communicates and relates to other people.”

Dr Newbutt has investigated how virtual world platforms such
as
Second Life can help people with
autism navigate social situations such as visiting a coffee shop, going to the
cinema or even attending a job interview.

A current project he is involved with, funded by the Department
for Work and Pensions, is examining how the role of innovative technologies
can have a positive impact on the employment prospects of people with autism
and other disabilities.

“Findings from a pilot project we undertook earlier this
year are very positive,” said Dr Newbutt. “There is a growing evidence-base
that suggests many people on the autism spectrum find interaction with
technology easy and, in some cases, more natural than interacting with people.
There is some evidence to suggest that games such as Minecraft and virtual
worlds such as Second Life (which have been designed for the general public)
have great potential to help someone on the spectrum practice and develop social
skills; building their confidence in virtual simulations without the fear of
real-life consequences.

“The first experiments using VRT technology were held
decades ago but the advent of readily available and affordable head-mounted
devices we are trialling have helped to enable a greater affordance for the
role of technology, with a view to developing new ways of helping people to
build confidence around social interaction.

“We tested the reactions of a small group of people
diagnosed with an autism spectrum condition to determine their acceptance
wearing a HMD, their self-reported immersion, the presence experienced using
the technology, and the experience and any anxiety levels associated with the
overall experience.

“We wanted to discover how using head-mounted immersive
interactive technology might help people with skills development, to overcome
their struggle with communication and to act as a toolset they can use to help
test social situations.”

The research team looked at willingness of people with
autism to wear the device, the extent to which people using the devise
experienced a sense of presence and immersion during the ‘experiences’ and also
to find out if wearing a device caused anxiety. In each experiment the outcomes
were positive and provided some new data to continue the evidence-base in this
field.

Dr Newbutt said: “Initial findings indicate that acceptance
of wearing a HMD was positive and negative effects such as dizziness or
sickness, sometimes associated with HMD use, was reported as low by the autism
group. We worked with a group of adults ranging from 17-52 and so feel the data
is representative of a wide age group.”

The next stage (and part of a National Institute of Health grant application) will investigate adapting experiences by developing a
targeted intervention programme (and specific skills development) and through
helping people on the autism spectrum transfer the positive virtual experiences
to the real world.

All of the VRT work Dr Newbutt undertakes involves him working
closely with organisations in employability contexts to develop a deeper
understanding of the issues facing people in addition to experts who work with
people with autism and their families.